Copies come from the registry office, the Urząd Stanu Cywilnego
Births, marriages and deaths in Poland are entered in the civil registry, and a certified copy, called an odpis aktu stanu cywilnego, comes from a registry office (USC). You can usually choose a short copy, a full copy or a multilingual one. The person concerned may apply, and so may someone they authorise or who can show a legal interest. An event that took place abroad has to be registered in Poland before you can get a Polish copy.
How it works
Order an official birth, marriage or death certificate from the civil registry.
You may need a birth, marriage or death certificate for a residence application, a wedding, an inheritance or a name change. It is usually issued by the civil registry where the event was recorded, not where you live now. Check whether the recipient needs a full copy, a short extract or a multilingual version, and whether it must be legalised or carry an apostille for use abroad. Many registries accept orders online or by post.
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At a glance
Each city sets its own way of taking requests
Open a registry office to see whether it takes requests at the counter, by post or online, how it deals with older paper entries and what to bring with you.
Guides
Related services
Learn what the welfare centre can offer, how the social worker’s visit works and which centre covers where you live.
How a trusted profile works for people living in Poland, what to bring to a confirmation point and which kinds of office can confirm it.
Understand how tax registration works, when a NIP is needed and how to reach the tax office that covers your address.
Learn what the departure report is, how it affects permanent and temporary registration and who may file it, then find the office.
See when you need a new ID card, how an online start works and why a visit to the office is still required, then pick an office.
See how re-registering at a new address works, who can do it online and which office takes it, then find the counter in your city.
Other countries
Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.
Most offices in Deventer, Hoofddorp, and The Hague
Most offices in Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges
Most offices in Hamburg, Karlsruhe, and Duisburg
Most offices in A Coruña, Alicante, and Almería
Where to next
Browse the registry offices that issue birth, marriage and death certificates and check how each takes requests before you go.
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